Chelsea Transfer News: Hazard Confirms Move to Stamford Bridge

Hazard will be joining the Blues This Summer

Eden Hazard, one of a host of players linked to a summer move to LiverpoolReuters

Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard has finally ended all speculation by saying that he is going to join Champions League winners Chelsea this summer.

"I'm signing for the Champions League winner," Hazard posted on Twitter.

The 21-year-old, who was also linkedto Manchester United and Manchester City, will reportedly be moving from Lille OSC to Stamford Bridge at a transfer fee of £32 million on a five-year deal that will see him get £100,000 per week after tax, accorrding to The Guardian.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is still yet to pick a permanent boss for the Blues, reportedly personally sealed this deal.

Although City, Manchester United and Arsenal, who were all competing to get Harzard's signature, finished better than Chelsea in the Premier League, Hazard says that he opted for Chelsea because they won the Champions League.

"They won the Champions League so they will be back in that competition next season. It's important for me to play in that competition. Chelsea are a great team with great players. Of course it's a possibility," the Daily Mail quoted Hazard as saying.

Hazard was reportedly convinced by former Chelsea player Joe Cole, who spent this whole season on loan (from Liverpool) at Lille.

"I've probably put about £5m on his transfer with the amount of things I've said about him. He's got everything. He'll maybe become one of the best players in the world," said Cole, according to The Guardian.

The 21-year-old winger, after switching to the number 10 shirt, has been in phenomenal form, scoring 22 and 25 assisting goals this season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who played a very crucial role in the Blues FA Cup and Champions League success this season, has signed a new four year deal at Stamford Bridge, committing him to the club till 2016.

"Chelsea fully appreciates the highly significant contribution Petr has made to the most successful period in the club's history, and it is very important to our aim of continuing this level of achievement that he has committed himself to the club until 2016. It is clear to anyone who watched the climax to the season just completed that Petr continues to perform as well as any goalkeeper in the world," Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay told Chelsea's official web site.

Cech, who has made 369 appearances for Chelsea since his joining in 2004, in his eight years at Stamford Bridge has seen the Blues win four FA Cups, three Premier League titles, two Carling Cups and a Champions League title.

"I am really happy to be part of this great club for another four years. I hope the next four years will be as successful as the last eight years I have been at the club," Goal.com quoted Cech as saying.